EnglishItalianoEspañolPortuguêsDeutschالعربيةFrançaisImportant DisclaimersFXEmpire is owned and operated by Empire Media Network LTD., Company Registration Number 514641786, registered at 7 Jabotinsky Road, Ramat Gan 5252007, Israel. The content provided on this website includes general news and publications, our personal analysis and opinions, and materials provided by third parties. This content is intended for educational and research purposes only. It does not constitute, and should not be interpreted a ...

Core Viewpoint - Oil prices have declined due to ongoing high-level diplomatic talks between the U.S. and Iran regarding Iran's nuclear program [1] Group 1: Oil Market Impact - Major oil benchmarks experienced a price drop on Tuesday [1]

Core Insights - Shell plc reported fourth-quarter 2025 earnings per ADS of $1.14, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.21 due to declining oil prices and unfavorable tax adjustments, despite higher hydrocarbon production [1][11] - The company's revenues for the quarter were $66.7 billion, slightly down from $66.8 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024, and missed consensus estimates by 2% [2] Financial Performance - Shell's cash flow from operations decreased by more than 28% year over year to $9.4 billion, while free cash flow was $4.2 billion compared to $8.7 billion a year ago [12] - The company returned $2.1 billion to shareholders through dividends and spent $6 billion on capital projects during the quarter [12] - As of December 31, 2025, Shell had $30.2 billion in cash and $75.6 billion in debt, with a net debt-to-capitalization ratio of approximately 20.7%, up from 17.7% a year ago [9] Segment Performance - Upstream segment profit was $1.6 billion, down from $1.7 billion a year ago, primarily due to lower prices and a decline in natural gas output [3] - Integrated Gas reported an adjusted income of $1.7 billion, down from $2.2 billion in the same quarter of 2024, affected by adverse tax implications and lower realized prices [6] - Chemicals and Products segment improved to an adjusted loss of $66 million from a loss of $229 million a year ago, attributed to higher refining margins [5] - Renewables and Energy Solutions segment turned around to an adjusted income of $131 million from a loss of $311 million a year ago, driven by trading and optimization contributions [8] Guidance - For the first quarter of 2026, Shell expects upstream volumes of 1,700-1,900 MBOE/d and Integrated Gas production between 920 MBOE/d and 980 MBOE/d [13] - The company anticipates marketing sales volumes of 2,550-2,750 thousand barrels per day and refinery utilization between 90-98% [13] - Total cash capital expenditure for full-year 2026 is projected to be between $20 billion and $22 billion [13]

Core Viewpoint - The content emphasizes the importance of conducting personal due diligence and consulting with competent advisors before making any financial decisions, particularly in the context of investments in complex instruments like cryptocurrencies and CFDs [1]. Group 1 - The website provides general news, personal analysis, and third-party materials intended for educational and research purposes [1]. - It explicitly states that the information should not be interpreted as a recommendation or advice for investment actions [1]. - The accuracy and reliability of the information are not guaranteed, and users are cautioned against relying solely on the content provided [1]. Group 2 - The website discusses the high risks associated with cryptocurrencies and CFDs, highlighting that they are complex instruments with a significant potential for financial loss [1]. - It encourages users to conduct their own research and fully understand the workings and risks of any financial instruments before investing [1].

Core Insights - China significantly supported oil prices in 2025 by accelerating crude stockpiling and absorbing additional supply from producers, preventing a price collapse despite increased supply from the Americas and sanctioned countries [1] Group 1: Oil Prices and Stockpiling - International crude benchmarks remained stable at approximately $60 per barrel, a price point that China considers favorable for increasing its crude purchases for storage [2] - In December 2025, China reached its highest monthly crude stockpiling since June 2020, indicating a strong commitment to building reserves [6] - The stockpiling rate surged to 2.67 million barrels per day in December, up from 1.88 million barrels per day in November, reflecting China's aggressive accumulation strategy [8] Group 2: Economic Context and Demand - China's crude oil imports hit an all-time high last year, despite weak transportation fuel demand and economic challenges, influenced by U.S. tariff policies and global market volatility [3] - The pace of China's stockpiling is influenced by oil prices, with a noted slowdown in accumulation when prices exceed the high $70s to $80 per barrel range [5] - The trend of increased stockpiling began in March and April 2025, as China's immediate oil demand remained weak while imports continued to rise [9] Group 3: Strategic Implications - China has the potential to further increase its crude stockpiling to shield itself from market and geopolitical uncertainties, particularly given the unpredictable nature of U.S. foreign and trade policy [4] - Analysts estimate China's crude inventory levels based on overall supply and refinery processing rates, as the country does not publicly report its inventories [7]

Core Viewpoint - Oil prices are experiencing mixed movements in Asia's morning session, with potential support from ongoing tensions in the Middle East that may disrupt supply [1] Group 1 - Oil prices are mixed in the Asian market, indicating volatility in the sector [1] - Ongoing tensions in the Middle East are a significant factor that could lead to supply disruptions, impacting oil prices [1]

Core Viewpoint - Crude oil and WTI prices have increased as traders are focusing on factors beyond Donald Trump's actions regarding Venezuela [1] Group 1: Market Reaction - Traders are looking past the geopolitical implications of Trump's Venezuela actions, leading to a rise in crude oil prices [1] - The market's response indicates a shift in focus towards other supply and demand dynamics in the oil sector [1] Group 2: Price Movements - The increase in crude oil prices suggests a bullish sentiment among traders despite external political factors [1] - WTI prices have shown a notable rise, reflecting the overall positive trend in the crude oil market [1]

Sign in to access your portfolio Sign in ...

Group 1 - The article highlights that the muted price movement of Venezuelan oil indicates that there are significant obstacles preventing a more substantial flow of oil from the country [1] - Expectations are set that the challenges in the Venezuelan oil sector will continue to impact market dynamics and pricing [1] - The current situation reflects a cautious outlook among investors regarding the potential for increased oil production from Venezuela [1]

Javier, you're picking up on geopolitics. We've got the conflict uh in Ukraine continuing uh Russia under sanction as a result of that. Then off the coast of South America, you've got a blockade in in place.How do these stand to affect the price of oil here in in the months to come. >> Well, I mean, that is the big headline race that oil traders talk about. You could have your best modeling of the global economy, your best modeling of supply and demand, but you cannot really anticipate what uh President Tru ...